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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: Microsoft Award Promotions <microaward@london.com>
Reply-To: inforstfirm@aim.com
Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:07:39 -0300
Subject: MICROSOFT WINNING NOTIFICATION



Microsoft Promotion Award Team
40 Rye crofts Way Stopsley
London,
United Kingdom.

MICROSOFT WINNING NOTIFICATION.... PROMO

The prestigious Microsoft® Windows XP Corporations wishes to inform
you that your e-mail address emerged as one of their online lucky
Winners selected from our private computerized lottery drawn here in
London United Kingdom and this selection process was carried out
through a random selection in our Computerized Email Selection System
(C.E.S.S.) from a database of over a million email addresses from the
world wide web.

This promotion was set-up to encourage the active users of the
Internet Microsoft® Windows. Hence we do believe that with your
winning prize, you will continue to be active and patronage to the
Microsoft® Windows XP Corporations.

Therefore you have won the sum of £500,000.00 pounds {Five Hundred
Thousand Great British Pounds}. A winning cheque will be issued in
your name by the Microsoft® Windows XP Corporation and also a
certificate of prize claims will be sent to you along side with your
winnings cheque. You are to make contact with your designated agent
who shall by duty, guide you through the process of facilitating the
release of your Prize.

For claims,you are advised to contact your designated appointed agent
(Mr.Brian Hilton) Of RST Limited on Email:inforstfirm@aim.com ,phone
number:(+44)7031741576 with the following details below.

VERIFICATION AND FUNDS RELEASE FORM.

(1) Your contact Address:
(2) Your Tel/Mobile Number:
(3) Your Nationality:
(4) Current Country:
(5) Your Full Names:
(6) Occupation:
(7) Date Of Birth:

Once again on behalf of all our staff and Managements we say CONGRATULATIONS!

Sincerely,

Microsoft Promotion Award Team,
United Kingdom Sub Region.

Anti-fraud resources: